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Thursday, March 7, 2013

Spanish App Review: National Geographic Kids Spanish Edition

By BettyName:National Geographic Kids Spanish EditionSubject(s): Reading, Science, Geography Brief Description: A
magazine-style app for your iPad and at your children’s fingertips in
Spanish! Full of facts, beautiful photography and engaging word games. Price: $1.99 Language: Spanish Ages: 6 and up What my kids like:
My son just turned six, speaks Spanish and currently reads it as a
beginner. He immediately started to scan the National Geographic app on
his father’s iPad and his eyes lit up at the realistic images displayed.
He particularly enjoyed the water facts. There were 20 different facts
on this article alone and they were each displayed as icons, a cool
effect when opening up each fact. He also enjoyed learning about pirates
and reading a tender story about a turtle and its “friend.” Some of
the Spanish was difficult for him to understand and he demonstrated some
frustration. We used my iPhone to look up words in the dictionary (two
gadgets!), so he enjoyed that very much! What I like:
I always think that if I am going to pay for an educational app (or any
app) I want to make sure we can use it over and over again. I started
to read aloud to my son and realized the Spanish was not going to be
easy for him. I saw this as an opportunity to help him figure out and
look up words he didn’t recognize. I translated a lot but I consider
that great practice for him. He made a great effort at reading the
captions and short paragraphs. Although he was a little frustrated, I
like that National Geographic Kids is so visually stunning and full of
great fun facts that it kept my son interested. I wish the app had more
games. The word game “Completa y diviertete” was difficult for me! I
don’t know Spanish grammar that well and I needed my husband’s help! The
only suggestion I would make to the developers of National Geographic
Kids would be to add a variety of age appropriate games. Technology like
iPads and their applications make children believe they are “playing,”
and mothers like me love it if they are learning as well.

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Betty Galvan, is helping her readers "find the positive and seek the benefits" over at her blog, MyFriendBettySays.com.